Transverse bed

[Aly1]

I am thinking of buying a brand new van and paying someone to convert it for me. I want a rear transverse bed but may struggle as I am 6 foot tall. I love driving my present Van on a Ford Transit but it seems to be narrower than other vans.
I want a 6m van, any recommendations for a base vehicle that will give me a transverse bed over 6 foot?
TIA.

 

[monzer]

People use pods on the sides of their van to give them an extra bit of space where the bed is. Maybe something to consider?

 

[Chockswahay]

I'm just over 6 feet tall and never had a problem in either our Globecar (6m Ducato) or HymerCar (5.4m Ducato)

You can gain a little more room if you leave out side windows at the back as the frame intrudes into the space

 

[Minxy]

AFAIK only Fiat Ducato and the Citroen, Peugeot equivalents will be wide enough.

 

[David BW]

I think you'll find the Fiat Ducato and the Peugeot and Citroen variants offer the best width at bed level but still tight for 6'. I'm about 6'2" and really appreciate the additional comfort of longitudinal beds in our Campscout. Remember that if you're a front sleeper you need to have room to stretch your toes out, making you a bit longer when sleeping.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Coolcats]

I'm just over 6 feet tall and never had a problem in either our Globecar (6m Ducato) or HymerCar (5.4m Ducato)

You can gain a little more room if you leave out side windows at the back as the frame intrudes into the space

Our Tin top doesn't have the windows and you are right it gives that little extra room and with a skylight you do not need windows in the sides. It may be with a Pop top a side window would add the extra light around the bedding area

 

[gpat]

I would give that a swerve. I am 5'11" and a half. I found a transverse bed in a coachbuilt uncomfortable. No way would I want to spend much time in a bed where I either have to sleep at at angle of have my legs bent. The Ducato (the widest van) is only just over 6" at the widest point. Once ply lined and insulation is in. IMO Forget it and sleep lengthways

 

[Coolcats]

I think you'll find the Fiat Ducato and the Peugeot and Citroen variants offer the best width at bed level but still tight for 6'. I'm about 6'2" and really appreciate the additional comfort of longitudinal beds in our Campscout. Remember that if you're a front sleeper you need to have room to stretch your toes out, making you a bit longer when sleeping.

I am 6'2 and no problem with the transverse bed, but we are all different the only problem is when I go full starfish mode the wife is never impressed by this

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

We decided with the insulation we wanted to put in ours it wouldn’t be feasible. I’m only 5.10 and a bit. But it wouldn’t work. So Ralph made ours length ways. You’ve to think you don’t sleep at the top end of your pillow and your feet flop forward , don’t stay up at right angles. Even some shop bought vans lengthways weren’t long enough for me.

 

[Abgs]

My Sprinter based van has the side pods which gives a transverse bed length of max 195cm (6’4”) and width of 130cm (4’3”). I’m 190cm (6’3”) and I find sleeping on slight diagonal gives me just enough stretch room. Fortunately Mrs ABGS is only 5’2’ so she just fits around me …. When I use the van on my own it’s perfect!

I also have the pop-top which gives another 2m*1.2m bed in the roof. However this comes at the expense of the skylights in the bedroom, bathroom and living areas. This has been quite an issue in the heat this year and so I’m currently trying to decide whether to trade for the same van but without a pop-top.

My main requirement was to get a sub 6m metre van so I could keep it at home and get to the places that my old 7m A Class found a bit awkward.

Having had the convenience of a 5.93m van I’d find it difficult to go back to a bigger vehicle. Most of the downsides can be figured out one way or another.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Northernraider]

Mercedes vario
Widest van ,but pre 2013 as that's when production stopped

 

[Ernesto]

We went for longitudinal partly because transverse beds were too short, but also the lack of windows impacts daylight and ventilation in the back of the van.
You also get the added benefit of one person not having to vault over the other to get up ... It sounds romantic, until you have to do it at 3am and knee them somewhere sensitive ...

 

[gpat]

Mercedes vario
Widest van ,but pre 2013 as that's when production stopped

Did they do a <6m version?

 

[mitzimad]

I would give that a swerve. I am 5'11" and a half. I found a transverse bed in a coachbuilt uncomfortable. No way would I want to spend much time in a bed where I either have to sleep at at angle of have my legs bent. The Ducato (the widest van) is only just over 6" at the widest point. Once ply lined and insulation is in. IMO Forget it and sleep lengthways

Ducato is 6 foot from inner lining to inner lining you can probably gain another 3 inches and still have some insulation in thats without pods

 

[EML]

I personally don't think it's practical if you're over 6'/whatever. You can get extendable side-pods from somewhere but I'd be surprised if they didn't break fairly quickly. The headline load compartment widths are (mm, second figure is between the arches):

Master	1765	1380
Transit	1784	1392
Sprinter	1787	1350
Sevel (Ducato/etc)	1870	1422

These figures don't tell the whole truth, though. When I actually measured up various vans I came to the conclusion that the Transit was more usable than the Sprinter.

If you're desperate, take a camp bed/blow-up mattress/whatever to your Ducato dealer, and try it out. You'll need to subtract maybe 3 or 4" for insulation and panelling, of course. Or maybe an Iveco?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Northernraider]

Did they do a <6m version?

Yeah the short wheel base is 5 metres the mwb is 6 metres , lwb 7 metres and xlwb is 7.3 metres.

The one I sold to Wissel was 7.3 , mu current one is 7m

 

[Aly1]

Thanks for all the replies. It is looking like a Ducato if I decide to go for it.

 

[Abgs]

Side pods are available for a number of different vans - that might give you the extra space.

Longsleeper - Functional Design: Innovations for motorhomes

Hier finden Sie die passenden Longsleeper / Heckverbreiterung / Flares / Ohren / Querbetten für Ihren Kastenwagen, Mercedes Sprinter, VW Crafter, MAN Crafter, Fiat Ducato, Renault Master

www.functional-design.de

 

[Coolcats]

Thanks for all the replies. It is looking like a Ducato if I decide to go for it.

The Ducato also gives overall more width through the van, which when you consider they are already narrower than the other types of MoHo can be a benefit particularly when out and about autumn winter and spring when you maybe spending a little more time in them as it helps reduce ‘Cabin fever’

 

[chaser]

The benefit of length ways beds is also better when getting out as the person at the back doesn't have to climb over the other person, each one can just slide out without disturbing the other.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[68c]

Look for a van with a dash mounted gearlever and handbrake by the door. It makes going from the front seats into the habitation area so much easier and reduces the chance of accidently knocking the handbrake off.

 

[john prince]

Hi, I brought a Burstner Nexxo T625 in February this year. It came with a brilliantly comfy transverse bed. On a Ford Transit base, at 2.3m wide, and at 6.3M long, plenty of stretch room. IMHO.

 

[Dazzola]

You can fit a 6'3" bed across a movano, master and nv400, half height from the floor.
If you use 7mm foil backed foam insulation to the rear upper panels.